But after Caitlin, a student at St John the Baptist School, stood up to the member of staff, they were allowed in as long as they did not knock anything over.

Following an investigation into the incident, a spokesman for the supermarket chain said it was an isolated incident and was as a result of "a most unfortunate misunderstanding".

But Saskia’s mother, Vicki Kirby, 32, is upset the situation appears to have been dismissed and said it had caused a "devastating impact" on her daughter.

She said: “Saskia is still suffering from anxiety.

“It is Caitlin’s birthday this week and we are going for a meal at the Harvester. It is Saskia’s favourite, but she does not want to go in case she crashes into something and is not let in.

“She is a child and now I am feeling awful because I am having to drag her out of the house causing her worry.

"I am so annoyed with them [the Co-operative] because they cannot take responsibility or show understanding.”

Following the publicity around the incident, the family was offered a "confidence-building" shopping trip around one of Saskia’s favourite stores in Woking.

But Vicki added: “It should be the Co-op making these gestures. She is having to grow up coming to terms with her disability, it’s very hard for her. It has been heartbreaking, as time goes on it is getting worse and she is not getting over it.”

The spokesman for Co-operative Food added: “People in wheelchairs are welcome in all our stores and, having investigated the incident, we believe it to be the result of a most unfortunate misunderstanding.

“We have been in direct contact with Miss Kirby and her family to apologise for any upset caused.”

The Staines Informer, Woking Informer, Surrey Herald, Surrey Advertiser and Surrey Times are part of Trinity Mirror Southern, offering you unique access to our audience across the region online and in print.

We reach an average of 264,182* unique users a month with dedicated coverage of Guildford, Woking, Esher, Staines and the whole of Surrey.

80% of our visitors**, who view an average of 997,435* page impressions every month, are in the desirable ABC1 socio-economic groups.

To book an advert with the our advertising team call 01483 508700 or visit the Trinity Mirror Southern website trinitymirrorsouthern.co.uk for more information.

We are part of Trinity Mirror Southern, offering you unique access to our audience across the region online and in print.

She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.